Everton fans react to Ross Barkley comments

Ross Barkley is well aware that he might receive a hostile reception during Sunday afternoon's visit of Everton.

The in-form Chelsea playmaker told The Liverpool Echo that he is bracing himself for the Everton boo boys during what will be his first game against the Toffees.

Barkley joined the Stamford Bridge club last January for £15 million but has only now become a big player for the Premier League giants, dazzling under Maurizio Sarri this season.

The 24-year-old began his career at Goodison Park, scoring 21 times in 150 Premier League outings.

He was adored by those on the blue half of Merseyside for a while, and here is how Everton fans on Twitter have reacted to his comments:

I don't think we should lower ourselves to the point of abusing him. Ignoring his presence on the pitch would be far more fitting, considering that, in his time with us, he achieved very little of note.

Emotions aside, even the most disappointed of Everton fans will acknowledge that Barkley's a class player on his day.

And with three goals and three assists in five Premier League starts under Sarri, he might well hurt his old club tomorrow - if he is allowed to.

Marco Silva's side have four of their last five league games. Chelsea might be second in the table, but Everton are bang in form and it wouldn't be a major shock if the Merseysiders left London with the three points.

Shane Callaghan

Shane is a Dublin-based sports writer who swapped the football pitch for the press box upon learning that he was better with a pen than with a round bit of leather. Prior to joining HITC, Shane enjoyed spells with Sports Mole and Goal.com among others, while he was also club reporter for Irish football club Drogheda United.